I have been sitting in a room, taking a little break from A Dance with Dragons. I am listening to Dolores tell me her story.

It's truly a confession. She talks about her husband and what occurred during that eclipse. She also mentions her employer, but mostly, and most importantly, she shares about herself: as a woman, a wife, and a mother.

It is a very chilling tale, told by today's master of the craft. The bell resonates, and I am drawn into her voice. I find myself in that small town, on that little island off the coast of Maine with her, listening to the events that led up to that eclipse and after, until now. As for the present, Vera Donovan, her employer, another woman with a different kind of history, lies dead.

Dolores Claiborne offers a classic and disturbing look at some of what happens around us all, both today and yesterday. I can't believe I just read this book! Given my early voracious reading of King's work, it surprises me that I missed this one. But the problem is solved. Now I simply must get my hands on Gerald's Game to read it again. This one provides a new perspective.

All hail the King, and oh yeah WOOT! Thank you Trudi for reminding me about this gem.

Wow! I enjoyed Dolores Claiborne far more than I initially anticipated!

Dolores Claiborne is not the typical horror offering one might expect from Stephen King. Instead, it leans more towards a psychological thriller, with a strong emphasis on character development. The story is infused with elements of anxiety, evil, and even a touch of humor, creating a unique and engaging blend.

The book is written in the first person, lacking traditional chapters or breaks. This format allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in Dolores Claiborne's world and experience her life as she does. Her voice is powerful and convincing, making every event in her life feel real and tangible. The plot, at times, feels raw, dark, and deeply sad.

I particularly relished the scenes where Dolores and Vera interacted and clashed with one another. Both characters have distinct voices and personalities that are certain to linger in the reader's memory for years to come. Their relationship adds an extra layer of complexity and drama to the story.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those who may not be die-hard horror fans but have a penchant for thrillers. Even if you do enjoy horror, I firmly believe you'll find something to appreciate in Dolores Claiborne. There are moments of palpable dread that are sure to satisfy any horror enthusiast's appetite!

Five stars for one of my very favorite Stephen King stories: the enthralling and legendary 1993 novel, Dolores Claiborne.

As old as this book is, and considering it was made into a big budget film starring Kathy Bates (my favorite King adaption, by the way), almost everyone knows the plot. However, I still want to emphasize that this is the story of a woman. She is easily the strongest woman King has ever created and simply one of the best damn female main characters I've ever come across in fiction. This is her story, her confessional, all told in first-person Maine dialect. The writing style is truly unique, something that most authors wouldn't have been able to pull off. But King isn't most authors. Novels like this one are precisely why he is my favorite writer, without a doubt.

There is so much I want to say about this book, yet I find I can't really say much at all. It is a complex, taut, fast-paced domestic thriller/drama/mystery that ranks among King's most un-put-downable and intriguing works. I challenge any reader to finish the story and not think of Dolores from time to time.

This is a classic, a must-read. And so on.

Favorite Quote

"In the fifties... when they had their summer parties - there were always different colored lanterns on the lawn... and I get the funniest chill. In the end the bright colors always go out of life, have you noticed that? In the end, things always look gray, like a dress that's been washed too many times.”

King Connections

Several references to Shawshank prison are mentioned. On page 226, Dolores is driving home on the day of the eclipse and takes note of the deserted roads. She comments on how they reminded her of "that small town downstate" where it is rumored "no one lives there anymore." A reference to 'Salem's Lot? I'll say maybe. This is the'sister' novel of Gerald's Game. Both books' most crucial moments take place on the day of the eclipse.

Up Next

It's a world of color, a world of darkness... It's Insomnia.

An extremely unconventional King novel, it is a kind of art experiment. Here, a protagonist tells her story without caring about normal writing traditions. It's not bad at all, just strange and extremely unusual. There are no other characters' perspectives, no switching between perspectives, no all-knowing narrator intro and description scenes. There is close to no real horror or something supernatural. It's just the weird, creepy old lady explaining what happened decades ago when her husband died and what is currently going on with a suspiciously similar incident with her boss. Morality and ethics of evil and justification for crimes are also significant here.

A cop tries to find out what's going on and the only dynamic in this kind of crime thriller is that her introspections and thoughts are contrasted with a bit of investigative action and the usual mental illness and madness subjects. King had far weaker and worse novels. It's still compelling, but I just can't handle that format and writing style. I'm very happy that he didn't continue this strange and unusual trip, although he was sober. Subjectively speaking, it would have been better to write a second Misery, a witch novel, an incubi novel (how nasty!), or anything with a female protagonist who is in a real, dramatic, multi-faceted setting, not just driveling about what she is remembering in an endless monologue. Many seem to like the idea and it's perfectly executed, but I'm just missing the dynamic of a real book.

Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...

The love that a natural mother feels for her children. That is the strongest and most mortal love in the world. There is no more wretched woman in the world than the one who fears for her children.

In the end, he was a coward, although I never pronounced that word, neither then nor ever. I believe that is the most dangerous thing one can do, because a coward is more afraid of being discovered than anything else, including death.

It is an extreme drama of survival and overcoming. A story and events that force you to completely resign any vestige of possible morality, bringing to the surface empathy and the heart.

Despite the fact that, due to a generational issue, I had seen the movie (with the magnificent Kathy Bates) on several occasions, this still did not give me any "immunity".

It touches on many aberrations that are deeply ingrained in society and naturalized in many cases. It also serves as an exercise to question how much or how little this situation has changed these days.

While I think it is a great story in terms of its conception and in terms of the role of Dolores, I must also say that, being basically "a confession", it is not the most "attractive" to read. And it is a bit repetitive in some aspects and extends a bit in others.

"There is no power on earth or in heaven that can prevent people from thinking the worst when they want to think it."

"Sometimes the world is a sad school, isn't it?"

This novel was under the further reading section of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, which lured me to buy it. (I was new to Stephen King back then.)

Dolores Claiborne is basically a confession of a woman named by the title, to the police after being accused of killing her employer Vera Donavan. Although she didn't kill Vera, she did confess the things she's been through in the past 30 years of being with her that was buried deep within herself all this time.

This novel is full of fast-paced suspense with an enthralling premise. There are no chapters, and it's more or less written as a huge monologue. Dolores is one of the strongest characters I have come across. It was so depressing at the same time infuriating to think of the things she's been through, and the way she dealt with it was completely remarkable.

As she says it, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

I am totally impressed by the writing. The way King voices woman characters is commendable. Whether it's a teenage girl or a savage old woman, King is the best when it comes to writing powerful and complex characters.

Highly recommended to those who love suspense and thrillers with a spine-chilling background! It keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, and you'll be completely engrossed in Dolores' story. The vivid descriptions and the intense emotions make it a truly unforgettable read.

The last time I read this book, I was likely too young to vote. So, in the context of Stephen King's works, I wasn't overly impressed. There seemed to be no real horror, no monster, and no hero to root for. However, that was just my perception at the time. In reality, all of those elements were present; I simply couldn't see them. That doesn't mean I disliked the book. It was good, and Dolores' character was well-developed and memorable. But it wasn't a book that my younger self could fully appreciate.

Years later, I read this book again for my Real-Life Bookclub, and it was a completely different experience. For one thing, I'm now the same age as Dolores for most of the story. And while our life experiences are very different, I can better identify with her and understand the story.

Before delving into the story itself, I want to comment on the writing style. This is the second King book I know of that uses a mostly single narrative, stream-of-consciousness style. There are no segments or chapters, and the story flows continuously from Dolores' perspective. This format works well here because the entire story is told through her eyes. There is an epilogue chapter that is outside of her narrative, but I think the book would be fine without it.

The other King book to use this style is Cujo, and in my opinion, it doesn't work as well. Cujo's story jumps around and changes perspective frequently, so it would benefit from being segmented. In both cases, though, it feels like King is experimenting with the narrative, trying something new.

Dolores is being questioned about the suspicious death of her employer, and she decides to confess to killing her husband thirty years ago. She claims that it was necessary to protect her daughter from his abuse. We only have Dolores' perspective, so we don't know if she's telling the truth. She could have killed him for any number of reasons.

The book takes place in the early 1960s, and it definitely feels like that era. There is a general sexism that pervades the narrative, from the roles expected of women to the attitudes of men. The scene in the bank, where Dolores is treated unfairly because she's a woman, is particularly frustrating.

The relationships between Dolores and her kids are also complex. Everything she does is for them, but their lives are constantly disrupted by her husband, Joe. Selena, the oldest and only daughter, is especially easy to identify with. She needs a mother, but what she has is a housekeeper who is always busy.

This book and Gerald's Game were both released in 1992 and are tied together by the father molestation storyline and the solar eclipse. In a way, they can be seen as alternate versions of the molestation. One where the abuse is stopped, and one where the girl has no protection.

Overall, this book is a complex and thought-provoking read. It's one of King's shorter works, but it still manages to pack a punch. I'm glad I re-read it as an adult and was able to appreciate it on a deeper level.

Basically, after delving into a plethora of reviews of It which contained all that disturbing child orgy stuff (alongside the apologist comments that are invariably left to dispute any negative review of that novel), my curiosity was piqued. I wanted to determine if Dolores Claiborne still retained its appeal.

This is the novel of King's that I recall liking the most. It's about a woman who takes matters into her own hands and kills her husband because he sexually harasses his own daughter. And indeed, it mostly holds up. It's an engrossing psychological thriller narrated by a captivating protagonist. Evidently, King does have an understanding of the heinous nature of child molestation and child objectification.

However, for some inexplicable reason, it seems he conveniently forgot about these crucial aspects (perhaps due to being overly intoxicated or high) while penning It.

I am truly baffled by the strange paranormal connections that seem to exist between Dolores Claiborne and Gerald's Game. Maybe I'll give that a read next. I wonder if it's any good?

When oppression and despair drive you to create or even to sing
.. We present to you: the model murder that you design and do not commit.. In it, nature punishes you; and the victim together {not really a victim}

From the masterpieces of revenge through world literature in all languages
\\"Husbands die every day Dolores. Why, one is probably dying right now while you're sitting here weeping....An accident can be an unhappy woman's best friend.\\"

Yes, you're right, Kenji, as always..☀
Accidents can be the best friend of an unhappy woman!..And what woman are you, Dolores? And what is this unhappiness?
When does the idea of murder cross the mind of the most noble and the most noble of mothers?

Kathy Bates is truly an outstanding actress. (Allow me to digress a bit and discuss the movies adapted from King's novels.) Kathy Bates had the privilege of starring as both Annie Wilkes in "Misery" and Dolores Claiborne in the eponymous film. I have watched both movies and thoroughly enjoyed them. If you haven't seen them yet, perhaps you should. Even if you're not a die-hard Stephen King fan, you should watch them for Bates' remarkable acting and to witness two films that were executed flawlessly. This is especially true if you believed that King only wrote straightforward horror. However, I would highly recommend reading the books first. In these two novels, King crafted two complex female characters who I consider to be polar opposites of each other. They are indeed different, except for the fact that while reading this past week, I pictured the face of Kathy Bates for both characters. Also, they share the small, dark place that a person is pushed to when there is no other option left. Annie begins in that state. It is an inherent part of who she is. Dolores, on the other hand, finds herself in that situation for a brief period because she has no choice, and unfortunately, it alters everything in her life from that point forward. Thirty years later, she finally spills her story. After her children have grown up and left home. After the woman she cared for and came to love as a friend has just passed away. After there is no one left.

"Sometimes you have to be a high-riding bitch to survive," she says. "Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto." This is a quote that I had not forgotten since hearing it in the movie, and I was glad to see that they had not changed it. You can't fully understand its context here. Reading it in the book, from the lips of Vera Donovan (the woman Dolores worked for and cared for – the real bitch for a while), is where it makes perfect sense. Just like the characters, this book turned out to be deceptively complex because of the things that are not directly experienced. We are only given a glimpse of all those years that pass after the Eclipse and the Well. There is a sadness that is inherent in this, especially in a particular part of the ending that came as a surprise – something I hadn't remembered from the movie. It tied everything together for me, as it bonded these two women over so many years.

Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman's got to hold on to.

~Dolores Claiborne

Dolores Claiborne is an island woman, a mother of three, a murderess, and an overall high-riding bitch. And I absolutely love her! She embodies strength, intelligence, and dignity. In my opinion, she is one of the most vivid and memorable literary creations to grace the pages of any book. I don't say this lightly. I'm not just a fan gushing over her; this is a more tempered and critical evaluation after living with her existence for many years. She has withstood the test of time, and I have no doubt that she will continue to do so long after her creator has passed.

Arguably one of Stephen King's most underrated and dismissed works, Dolores Claiborne remains one of his best and most literary novels for me. The first-person narrative voice is brilliantly executed. The island dialect sounds authentic, and the rhythm of the language makes the sense of place so vibrant and tangible. The reading experience is further enhanced by the audio version, which I highly recommend.

King brings his A-game as he delves into the life of a poor, uneducated island woman who marries young and has to repent at leisure. I love this story because it not only captures small-town life and a woman's place in it but also the unbreakable bonds of friendship that can be forged between women, like steel, and the fierce love a mother feels for her children.

In her awesome review, Catie puts it this way:

This book is a powerful and naked look at mother-love, at how desperate, intense, and all-consuming it really is....But mainly this is the story of an unlikely alliance between two hard talkin’, high riding bitches; two women from very different walks of life who find that they have a similar core of bitter strength.

At its heart, this is a book about a desperate woman driven to a desperate act. It's a crime novel built around a detailed confession that is so urgent and immediate that the story sucks you in like quicksand and won't let go. This isn't a horror novel, but there are a few moments of pure suspense and terror that had my heart racing.

When Dolores returns to the well and Joe has nearly succeeded in climbing out and grabs her ankle, I just about screamed and threw the book across the room! When you have to do such a dirty deed, you want it to happen as fast and clean as possible. It could not have turned out more ugly and terrifying for Dolores, and is it any wonder she imagines Joe's face grinning out at her from behind the wheels of Vera's wheelchair on the day of Vera's death?

Dolores Claiborne isn't the only high-riding bitch in this story. There's also Ms. Vera Donovan, her contrary and vitriolic employer, who explains the facts of life thusly: \\"Husbands die every day Dolores. Why, one is probably dying right now while you're sitting here weeping....An accident can be an unhappy woman's best friend.\\" Dolores and Vera make an unlikely pair, but over the years, they form an unexpected and unforgettable friendship that runs dark and deep.

This review can also be found at Busty Book Bimbo

Dolores Claiborne is a captivating and unique novel by Stephen King. When Vera Donovan dies suddenly, Dolores, her housekeeper, is suspected of the crime. But Dolores is determined to tell her side of the story, taking us all the way back to her troubled marriage and the mysterious death of her violent husband, Joe St. George, thirty years ago.

The narrative style of this book is truly remarkable. There are no traditional chapters, but rather a continuous flow of text that reads like a spoken monologue. Told from Dolores' perspective, we are drawn into her world and experience her joys, sorrows, and struggles.

The relationship between Dolores and Vera is a central theme of the story. Their love/hate dynamic is complex and well-developed, and we see how their lives intersect and impact each other over the years. The feminist undertone adds an extra layer of depth to the story, making it not only a thrilling mystery but also a powerful exploration of women's lives and experiences.

The writing in this novel is superb. King's use of language is masterful, creating vivid images and characters that come to life on the page. I was hooked from the very first sentence and couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.

I highly recommend Dolores Claiborne to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, a powerful story, or simply great writing. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

\\n  “Sometimes, Dolores, you have to be a high riding bitch in order to survive, because being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to..“\\n